A kitchen remodel is a significant home improvement project. It’s a considerable time and money investment that involves many elements, crucial among them being your kitchen cabinets. Your cabinetry has an outsized influence over your overall kitchen design, so you want to be sure you make a good choice. 

Here’s what you must remember when choosing kitchen cabinets for your remodeling.

What are some good themes for a kitchen?

Kitchen cabinets are available in many design themes and styles. We recommend browsing through several articles and exploring different designs to get a good sense of the available options that might fit your design preferences. Then you can hone in on a few options that you like.

Here are a few popular themes and designs for cabinetry.

• Contemporary: Creates an elegant aesthetic with smooth, sleek surfaces.

• Traditional: Features blended colors, balance, and symmetry

• Transitional: Blends modern and traditional styles
• Rustic: Creates a natural aesthetic with an unfinished wood look

• Farmhouse: Features cabinet designs often made from raw materials
• Craftsman: Minimal cabinets with few features

What Is The Cost Of Kitchen Cabinets (2022)

The cost of cabinetry varies widely depending on several factors. So, you need to define your budget and let it guide your choices as you shop around. Regarding funding, kitchen cabinets fall under two categories: semi-custom and custom.

Semi-custom kitchen cabinets are the more affordable of the two, so it’s no wonder they’re also the more popular option. However, note that even within this category, the price and quality vary considerably. Semi-custom cabinets are made to order with multiple modification options, including size, door style, add-on features, wood species, finishes, and drawer box options.

Custom kitchen cabinets are the premium option, so they cost more. The cabinet maker crafts them to your precise specifications. These kitchen cabinets typically have a sturdy construction featuring dovetail joinery, fully extended drawer guides, solid wood frames on the doors, etc. 

Keep your kitchen remodeling budget in mind when determining the budget for cabinetry. Compare the cost of installing the kitchen cabinets with other aspects of your remodeling project and prioritize.

Kitchen Cabinet Functionality

Form and function factor into every aspect of your kitchen remodeling because you want your kitchen to look fantastic and be a joy to work in. So, the first step to installing the perfect cabinetry is assessing your current kitchen’s design and functionality.

Your kitchen cabinet’s design should complement your kitchen’s overall design. So, let the theme you have in mind for your new kitchen guide your choices for kitchen cabinets. Likewise, consider how you plan to use your new kitchen and how your cabinetry fits into that.

Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself:

• What are your storage needs for your kitchen?
• Will you have a kitchen island for prepping food?
• What technologies do you plan to integrate into your kitchen?
• How easily can you clean and maintain the kitchen cabinets?

These are a few considerations you need to consider when thinking about the cabinets to install for your kitchen remodeling. It helps to consult a kitchen remodeling contractor to help you articulate your needs clearly and explore the full range of options available.

Kitchen Cabinet Materials

Kitchen cabinets are available in various materials, the most common of which are furniture-grade wood, premium laminate, and medium-density fiberboard. Furniture-grade wood gives most kitchens a charming, prestigious edge. Wood, which is available in multiple species, also offers a lot of variety.

Wood also comes in various finishes and colors. If you’re unsure which wood species and colors to choose, your kitchen remodeling contractor can help you assess the options and find options that suit your preferences and budget.

Laminate cabinets are made from fusing paper and polymer resins under heat and pressure. This versatile material mimics the appearance of painted or wood cabinetry. Furthermore, laminate cabinets are easy to clean and available in endless designs and colors.

Micro-density fiberboard is a popular kitchen cabinet material among homeowners. It’s made from wood fibers and is denser than other materials. This material typically features a laminate or wood veneer layer and comes in numerous colors. Keep in mind that you can paint or stain micro-fiber fiberboard.

Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles

When deciding which door style to use for your kitchen cabinet, you must consider how the doors fit into your overall kitchen design. It’s not just about how the doors open and close. The right cabinet doors accentuate your kitchen’s aesthetics and streamline its functionality.

The door styles can be either framed or frameless. The doors and drawers of a framed cabinet are attached to the box frame. Framed cabinets typically have decorative features and raised panels. They’re a good fit for traditional kitchens and are available in more options than frameless cabinets.

Also referred to as full-access cabinets, frameless cabinets are better suited for modern kitchen styles. They need a thicker box frame for durability. Their open appearance and lack of a face frame make them more accessible than framed cabinets. You can use frameless cabinets without doors if you want.

Besides the frame, there are several other features to consider for your kitchen cabinets’ door style. The most common ones include:

Shaker: Simple cabinets that feature a frame with center panels that provide a clean aesthetic

Open: Doorless cabinets that let you display collectibles such as glassware and fine China

Beadboard: Stylish cabinets that resemble vertical wall paneling that create a farmhouse aesthetic in rustic kitchens

Slab or Flat: Plain cabinets that suit contemporary-style kitchens

Recessed Panel: Features an open panel surrounded by a raised border

Raised Panel: Similar to shaker cabinets but with an elevated panel with intricate detailing

Kitchen Cabinet Add-ons

Once you decide on the basics, the next step is determining which add-ons to include in your new kitchen cabinets.

Spice racks

Tray dividers

Special lighting

Ornamental detailing

Deep dividers

Soft close drawers

Spring-loaded shelves

Lazy Susan

Corner drawers

Charging stations

Cutting board drawers

Pet station pull-outs

Waste pull-outs

Pantry pull out

Another vital aspect to think about is the hardware for your cabinetry. Cabinet hardware includes latches, hinges, and handles. These, too, need to match or complement your overall kitchen design.

Should You Reface or Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets?

If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen and your cabinetry is in poor condition, you have two options: repair or replace. That depends on your budget and your current design preferences. Perhaps your kitchen cabinets came with the house when you bought them, and you want a different look.

Or maybe you like how your cabinets look and want to refresh them. In that case, you should consider refacing your cabinetry. But first, consult your kitchen remodeling contractor to determine whether refacing works for your kitchen. Remember that refacing is a cosmetic solution that works only for cabinets that function well but need a facelift. 

On the other hand, if your kitchen cabinets have structural problems, such as the drawers not functioning correctly, you’re better off replacing them. After all, you want your kitchen to look good and, even more importantly, function well. Replacing broken cabinetry makes it a joy to work in your kitchen because it’s easy to access things when needed.

How To Hire A Contractor For kitchen remodel

Involving a reliable and experienced kitchen remodeling contractor in the design process improves the chances that you’ll be happy with the results. The contractor’s experience and expertise can help inform your choices because they understand what works on a practical level.

You can find kitchen remodeling contractors by searching them online and reviewing their websites. Also, consider getting recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues who have remodeled their kitchens and were happy with the results. Give preference to contractors that display a portfolio of their projects on their website.

You might also want to ask for references and contact previous customers to ask pertinent questions, including how satisfied they were with the results. Additionally, give preference to local contractors. They’re likely to be familiar with the local building codes.

After reviewing the recommendations and portfolios, create a short list of contractors you believe are a good fit for you. Next, reach out to them and have them send someone to assess your kitchen and draw up a quote. The best quotes provide a clear timeline for the projects and break down the costs in detail.

Bring Your Vision for Your Kitchen to Life

Transforming your kitchen into a space you adore takes some thought and a sizable investment. You don’t have to figure it out alone, though. Working with a reliable and experienced kitchen remodeling contractor can help you make your dream kitchen a reality. If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen and installing new kitchen cabinets, contact Cyrus Construction today to schedule a consultation.